Separator



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T. J. STURTEVANT SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 28, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY 150M190 T. J. STURTEVANT SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 23', L922 5 Sheets-Sheet .fiufiy l, 1924}.

T. J. STURTEVANT SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 28, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 komw Th' ATTQRNEY STATES THOMAS J. ST'O'RTEVANT, OF WELLESLZEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO ST URTE- BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- VANT MILL COMPANY, OF CHUSETTS.

PATENT caring.

. SEFARATOB.

Application filed December 28, 1922. Serial No. 609,480.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs J. STUR'I'E- VANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators, of which the following is a specification.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to screen separators for grading materials, and more particularly to means for vibrating the screen or screens, and to means for feeding the materials to be. graded to the screen or screens.

In my Letters Patent No. 1,454,140 granted May 8, 1923, is disclosed an eccentric mechanism for vibrating the screen. The eccentric has slight eccentricity, and is rotated at high speed, and means is provided for transmitting movements from the eccentric to the screen, and the short reciprocatory movements of this transmitting means may act with hammer-like action to impart a rapid succession of blows to the screen, and thereby keep the meshes thereof in open condition for efficient grading effect.

The eccentric mechanism of said applica tion is driven by an electric motor which is separate from said mechanism, and is connected thereto by a coupling. One of the purposes of the present invention 1s to simolify the eccentric vibrating mechanism and its driving means, to eliminate certain parts and combine elements into a compact, eflicient organization which will serve more effectively for the purposes. this, in the present instance of the invention, the shaft for the eccentric is journalled in bearings in a casing, and an end portion of the shaft projects outward beyond one of the bearings, and the armature of the motor is mounted directly on said end portion of the shaft, while the field of the motor is mounted in and carried by the casing containing the eccentric, its shaft and bearings.

A separate shaft, bearings, coupling between the motor and the eccentric shaft, and a separate mounting for the motor are all eliminated. Also, the casing may be divided into two compartments, one to receive the eccentric device, and the other to receive the motor, and the compartment for the eccentric device may be filled with grease or other To accomplish suitable lubricant, which will serve efiectively to lubricate the eccentric device and its bearings, and the lubricant will be prevented from reaching the armature, field and other parts of the motor. Thus, the necessity for lubricating separate bearings for a motor shaft is eliminated.

Separators of this type are provided with veyer is readily obtained.

Under certain conditions it is desirable to provide a plurality of separator units, each of whlch has its individual eccentric vibratlng device. Another purpose of the invention 1s to provide means whereby these eccentric vibrating devices may be driven by a single motor, and a feed conveyor which may be common to the plurality of separator units may also be driven by said motor.

The construction is such that the separator may be operated by a single electric motor, and thus it may be placed in any desired location, and may be quickly and easily set up in condition for operation merely by connecting the electric motor to a source of electric current, and without necessity of rigging any shafting or belting.

The character of the invention will be best understood by reference to the following Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of \one of the screen virating devices, and illustrating a portion of the transmission for driving the screw conveyer; Fig. 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of another of the screen vibrating devices, and showing the armature of the motor mounted on the eccentric shaft and the field of the motor carried by the casing containing the eccentric;

Fig. 7 is a. perspective view of a screen vibrating device, its driving motor, and a portion of the transmission for driving the screw conveyer, the mechanism being suit-.

able for application to a single separator unit; and

Fig. 8 is a view partly in elevation and partly; in section of mechanism shown in l leferring to the drawings, a screen or screens may be provided of any suitable construction, and in the present instance, in-

clined screens are shown mounted in casings provided with means for feeding the materials to be graded to the screens. Two separator units are shown herein for purposes of illustration, and since these units are similar, a description of one will suflice for both. Each separator unit may comprise a frame 1 (Figs. 1 and 3) supporting a casing in inclined position. This casing may comprise a bottom 3, sides 5 and a cover 7 having its upper edge connected to the body of the casing by a pair of hinges such as the hinge 9, said cover being secured in closed position by latches such as the latch 10.

To introduce materials into the casings, a feed box 11 is provided at the upper ends of the casings, and communicates therewith. In the present instance, a single feed box is common to the two separators. At one end of the feed box is a head 13 (Fig. 3) provided with a neck 15 through which materials to be graded may be admitted to the feed box. Mounted within the latter is a conveyer, in the present instance, in the form of a screw conveyer 17 mounted on a shaft 19 journalled in suitable bearings at opposite ends of the box. The materials introduced into one end of the feed box are fed by the conveyer along the feed box and flow over a distributing plate 21 held at the desired elevation by adjusting screws 23. The materials flowing over the distributor late avitate downward and are directed y de ecting plates 25 into the upper ends of the casings. Hinged doors 27 and 29 enable ready access to the interior of the feed box and to the interior of the upper ends of the casings.

A screen or screens may be mounted in each casing, and in the resent instance, three screens are employed, one an upper or scalper screen 31, and the others lower or fine screens 33 and 35.

The upper screen comprises screen clothing 37 which may be stretched on a frame having side members 39 connected by end members 41. Intermediate the side members and extending longitudinally of the screen, is a ribbon-like member 43 which may be suitably secured to the end members an to the screen clothing. Beneath the member 43 and extending transversely of the screen, are a pair of channels 45 secured to the side members of the frame and to the screen. clothing.

The upper screen, in the present instance, may be supported on hanger plates 47 (Fig. 2) secured to and depending from the casing cover. To prevent the screen from sliding downward on the hanger plates, leaf springs 249 may be secured to the hanger plates ad- ]acent the lower ends thereof, and'the' upper free ends of said springs may engage angle plates 51 secured to the side members of the screen frame. The construction is such that when the cover. is lifted up from the body of the casing, the screen may be slid inwardlydongitudinally of the hanger plates, and as it approaches its proper position, the angle plates 51 will ride over the leaf springs 49 and then drop into engagement with the ends of said springs and prevent the screen frl'om sliding downward along the hanger p ates.

Strips of flexible material 52 (Fig. 2) may be secured to the side members 39 of the frame and engage the hanger plates to revent escape of materials from the screen 1nto the spaces between the side edges of the screen and the hanger plates.

The intermediate screen 33, in the present instance of the invention, comprises screen clothing 53 mounted on a frame having side members 55 connected by end members 57. Intermediate the side members and extending longitudinally of the screen is a ribbon-like member 59 suitably secured to the end members and to the screen clot-hing. Extending transversely of the screen are a pair of channels 61 suitably secured to the side members and to the screen clothing. Flexible strips 63 (Fig. 2) are secured to the side members of the screen frame, and adapted to engage the sides 5 of the casing to prevent escape of materials from the screen into the spaces between the side edges of the screen and the sides of the casmg.

The lower portion of the screen ma be supported on a pair of leaf springs 65 having their lower ends secured to brackets 67 mounted on the sides of the casing. The upper ends of these leaf springs engage angle plates 69 secured to the side members 55 of the screen frame. The construction is such that the lower portion of the screen is yieldingly supported by the leaf springs 65, and the screen is prevented from sliding downward by engagement of the angle plates 69 with the upper ends of the leaf 8 plates 87 secured to the side mem springs. The upper portion of the screen 33 may be Supported by means to be described.

The lowest screen 35, stance of the invention, compr1ses screen clothing 71 mounted on a frame having side members 73 connected "by end members 75. Intermediate the side members and entending longitudinally of the screen is a IlbbOIllike member 77 suitably secured to the end members and to the screen clothing. Er:- tending transversely of the screen are, a pair of channel members 79 suitably secured to the sidemembers and to the screen clothing. Flexible strips 81' (Fig. 2) are secured to the side members. of the frame, and are adapted to engage the sides of the casmg to prevent escape of materials from the screen into the spaces between the side edges of the screen and the sides of the casing.

The lower portion of the screen 35 may be supported on a pair of leafsprings 83 having their lower ends secured to brackets 85 mounted on the sides of the casing. The upper ends of these leaf sprmgs engage angle ers of the screen frame. The construction is such that the lower portion of the screen is y1eldingly supported-by the leaf springs 83, and the screen is prevented from sliding downward by engagement of the angle plates 87 with the'upper ends of the leaf springs. The upper portion of the screen 35 may be supported by means to be described.

The materials flowing from the lower ends of the screens may pass over inclined plates 89 mounted in the casing, and may pass thence from the casing.

The devices for vibratmg'the screens may be mounted beneath the bottoms 3 of the casing on a base 91 (Figs. 1 and 3) carried by the casing frames 1.

Each of these vibrating devices, in the present instance of the invention, comprises a casing 93 (Figs. 4 to 8) formed of a pair of heads or parts 95 and 97 secured in assembled relation by'bolts 99. This casing may be secured to the base 91 by bolts 101 entered through flanges 103 on said heads. Mounted in these heads are ball bearings 105 in which is journalled a shaft 107. The head 97 may be provided with a cap 108 having an opening receiving the shaft 107 and a counterbore 108 receiving packing 108 confined'by a plate 108.

The shaft is formed to present an eccentric 109 having a slight eccentricity, such, for example, as of an inch. Fast on the eccentric is a grooved ring 111, and encircling the latter and spaced therefrom is a grooved ring 113, and, balls are mounted between the two grooved rings, and the rings and balls form a ball bearing.

A shoe or follower 117 (Figs. 4 and 5) rests on the periphery of the ring 113, and

113 to prevent the shoe from moving laterallX'ofi' from the ring. in the present inrod 121 has one end threaded into the shoe, and said-rod projects upward th'rou h a column 123 having at the bottom thereo a flange 125 opposed toa flange 127 on the eccentric casm 93, cured together iy bolts 129. plate 131 is confined between the flanges 125 and 127, and has. an upstandin collar 133 projecting somewhat into the co umn.

. The upper end of the follower rod is pro-' vided with a bushing 135 fast thereon, preferably square in cross section, and having a sliding free fit in a similarly shaped bearing 137 in the upper end 139 of the column. A U-shaped head 141 is mounted on a reduced portion ofthe follower rod 121, and is secured thereon by a nut 143.

To prevent lost motion between the parts of the eccentric device, it is desirable that the eccentric shall push the shoe but not pull the same. To press the shoe against the ring, a coil spring 145 (Fig. 4) is provided in the column 123, and is confined between the column end 139 and a nut 147 threaded on the rod 121. The nut 147 may have an apron 149 depending therefrom and overlapplng the sleeve 133, thereby to prevent dust from entering the casing containing the eccentric.

The eccentric is rotated at high speed, such, for example, as 1800 revolutions per minute, and the eccentric and the spring 145 will therefore combine to give the follower rod 121 and the head 141 rapid reciprocatory movements of slight amplitude, and these movements are utilized in vibrating the screens.

The head 141 may engage a plate 151 (Fig. 5) secured to the back of the upper transverse channel 79 of the lowest screen 35. 0n top of the screen and opposed to the plate 151, is a stud 153 having a flange 155, and said plate and stud flange are secured to the back of the channel by bolts 157.

The stud 153 may engage a plate 159 (Fig. 4) on the back of the upper transverse channel 61 of the intermediate screen 33. A stud 161 is opposed to the plate 159, and the stud and plate may be-boltedtogether.

The stud 161 engages a plate 163 beneath the back of the upper transverse channel 45 of the scalper screen 31. Mounted on the screen and opposed to the plate 163 is a stud 165, and said plate and stud may be bolted to ether.

t is desirable that the eccentric actuated head 141 may be-pressed against the plate 151, and that the stud 153 may be pressed against the plate 159, and that the stud 161 may be pressed against the plate 163. For this purpose, suitable spring means may be provided, in the pressaid fian es being seent instance, in the form of a coil spring A hand lock nut 183 may be provided for the adjusting screw. The construction is such that the screw may be adjusted to give the coil spring 167 the tension desired.

When it is desired to remove the scalper screen from the casing, the cover is tilted upward, and then the lower end of the scalper screen may be grasped and pulled outward along the hanger plates 47. To prevent the spring containing cup 171 from interfering with the removal of the scalper screen, the latch 179 may be ad usted to release the arm 175, and then the latter may be rocked to move the screw 173 awa from the cup and permit the cup and t e coil spring therein to be lifted and removed up through the cover.

When the head 141 is rapidly reciprocated by the eccentric with small amplitude of movement, it will operate through the plate 151 to vibrate the lower screen 35, and the vibration will be transmitted by the stud 153 to the plate 159 and the intermediate screen 33, and the vibration will be further transmitted by the stud 161 to the plate 163 and the upper scalper screen 31.

The lowest screen 35 and the plate 151 attached thereto, do not closely follow the rapid downward movements of the head 141, but lag somewhat so that spaces will occur between the plate and the head. The consequence is that when the head moves upward it may meet the downward moving plate 151 and strike the same, and the head will strike the said plate sharp blows with hammer-like action. As a result, the screen' is efliciently vibrated, and the meshes thereof are kept in open condition.

Similarly, the stud 153 will strike the plate 159 of the intermediate screen 33 with hammer-like action, and similarly, the stud 161 will strike the plate 163 of the scalper screen 31 with hammer like action. The amplitude of the hammer blows may be varied by adjustment of the tension of the coil spring 167. For certain classes of work it may be desirable to reduce this amplitude to such an extent that the ra id hammer blows are so minute as to pro uce a humming sound.

The frames of the screens and the longitudinal and transverse members thereof have a resilient character which further contributes to the efiicient vibration thereof, and the distribution of the vibration eflect throughout the entire areas of the screens.

If very fine wire screen clothing is employed for the lowest screen 35, it may be desirable to support the same by a screen 184 (Fig. 5) mounted on the screen frame beneath the fine clothing 71. The two screens may sla together when vibrated, and thereby furt er contribute to maintaining the meshes of the fine screen in open condition.

The casing containing the eccentric, ball bearings, rings and followers may be filled with grease which may be supplied by a grease cup 185 connected by a pipe'187 with one of the parts of the casing. To lubricate the bearing 137 for the upper end of the follower rod, a grease cup 189 may be provided connected by a pipe 191 with the upper end 139 of the column 123.

One of the important features of the invention consists of the intimate combination of the eccentric device with the motor for driving the same. For this purpose the eccentric shaft 107 has an end portion 193 (Fig. 6) which extends outward somewhat beyond one of the ball bearings 105. The armature 195 of the electric motor is mounted directly fast. on the end portion 193 of the shaft. The field 197 for the motor is mounted in and carried by an extension 199 which may be formed integral with one of the parts of the eccentric casing. That is, a casing part such as shown in Fig. 6 accommodating the motor is substituted for a casing part, such, for example, as thahead 97 shown in Fig. 5. i

The eccentric and the motor are therefore, mounted in the same casing, but the latter is divided into a compartment receiving the eccentric and a separate compartment receiving the motor.

The end of the casing part 95 (Fig. 6) may have a cap 95 containing a recess 95 receiving packing 95 and closed by a plate 95.

The construction is such that the necessity for a separate shaft, bearings and mounting for the motor, and a coupling between the mortor shaft and the eccentric shaft are all eliminated. Also, since the compartment containing the eccentric is separate from the compartment containing the motor, the lubricant in the eccentric compartment will be prevented from reaching the armature, field and other parts of the motor. Also, the necessity for lubricating separate bearings for a motor shaft is obviated.

In order that the eccentric vibrating devices for the two separator units may be driven by a single motor, the eccentric shafts of the two devices may be connected by a shaft 200 (Fig. 3) having at its ends flexible couplings 201, each comprising a flexible steel disk 203 bolted to heads 205 and 207 .ing one of the eccentric vibratin atone secured respectively on the connecting-shaft 200 and the eccentric shafts.

It is desirable that the motor for drivor both of said devices may be uti ized also to drive the screw conveyer 17. To accomplish this, in the present instance, the eccentric shaft 107 of one of these devices may have a portion 207 (Fig. 5 extended outward beyond th left hand all bearing 10 5 and receiving a pinion 209. This pinion is mounted in a casing 211 which may be detachably secured to the eccentric casing by bolts 213 (F ig. 1). The casing 211 may be formed to provide a bearing 215 and to receive a car 217 mounted on a countershaft 219 having one end journalled in said bearing and its opposite end journalled in a bearing 221 (F ig. 3) carried by a bracket 223 mounted on the base 91 referred to. The bearing 215 may be lubricated by a grease cup 225, and the bearing 221 may be lubricated by a grease cup- 227.

A pulley 229 fast on the countershaft 219 may be connected by a belt 231 with a pulley 233 fast on the screw conveyer shaft 19 referred to. The ratio of the pinion 209 to the gear 217, and the ratio of the pul-. ley 229 to the pulley 233 are such that proper speed reduction is provided between the rapidly rotated motor shaft and the conveyer shaft.

The construction is such that the same motor will operate to rot-ate the eccentrics of both of the eccentric vibrating devices, and to rotate the screw conveyor. Thus, the separator units may be placed wherever desired, and it is merely necessary to connect the electric motor with a source of electric current and without reference to shafting, belting or other source of power.

However, if it should be desired to operate the separator units by a source of power other than the electric motor, a pulley 235 (Fig. 3) may be mounted on the conveyer shaft 19, and may be connected by a belt with a pulley driven by any suitable source of power. The speed ratio obtained by the transmission between the screw conveyer shaft and the eccentric shafts is such as to secure their proper relative speeds.

The mechanism described lends itself to a variety of situations and conditions. For example, if a single separator unit should be employed, the casing extension or part 199 carrying the motor may be substituted for the casing part 97 (Fig. 5) and the motor armature may be mounted on the end portion of the eccentric shaft. Then the assembly will appear as shown in Figs. 7

and 8, and the motor'will operate to drive the. eccentric and the screw conveyer, it being understood that a screw conveyer and a feed box would be provided of appropriate length for the single separator unit.

devices It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

. What is claimed is:

1. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a screen, a shaft, an eccentric on the shaft having a follower, an electric motor close to the eccentric for drivmg the eccentric shaft and having its armature mounted directly on and carried by the eccentric shaft, and a member reciprocated by the eccentric and follower for imparting vibration to the screen, said member being unattached to the screen, that the latter may have independent vibrations.

A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a screen, a casing having bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on the shaft within the casing and having a follower, an elec tric motor carried by said casing for driving the eccentric having its armature mounted directly on and carried by the eccentric shaft, and a member projecting from the follower out of the casing to the screen, said member being reciprocated by the eccentricand follower for imparting vibration to the screen.

3. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a screen, a casing having bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings and having an end portion projecting beyond one of said bearings, an eccentric mounted on said shaft between said bearings and enclosed in said casing, means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen to vibrate the latter, and an electric motor having its armature mounted on the end portion of said shaft and having its field carried by said casing.

4. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a screen and means for vibrating said screen including a casing rovided with bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric and an electric motor armature mounted on said shaft, a field for the motor, and means detachably to secure the field to said casing, said eccentric being enclosed by said casing.

5. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a screen and means for vibrating the screen including a casing having bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on said shaft, means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen, and an electric motor for driving the eccentric and having its armature mounted on the same shaft the eccentric is on, said casing being divided into sepamted compartments, one enclosing the eccentric and the other enclosing the motor.

6. A. separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a screen and means for vibrating the screen including a casing divided in two arts, means to secure the parts of the casing in assembled relation, hearings in said casing, a shaft 10urnalled n said bearings, an eccentric mounted on said shaft, means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen, and an, electric motor carried by one part of the casing and having its armature mounted on the same shaft the eccentric 'is on.

7. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a feed box, a conveyer mounted in the feed box and having a shaft, a screen for receiving materials to be graded from the feed box, a casing provided with bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on said shaft in said casing and having minute eccentricity, an electric motor for rotating said eccentric shaft at high speed, means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen to vibrate the latter, a pinion on the eccentric shaft, a countershaft, a large gear on the countershaft meshing with the pinion, transmission means connecting the countershaft with the conveyer shaft, and a pulley on the conveyer shaft adapted to be driven from a source of power, either said motor or pulley being adapted to serve as the driving means.

8. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a feed box, a conveyer mounted in the feed box, a screen for receiving the materials to be graded from the feed box, a casing provided withbearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on said shaft and enclosed in said casing, means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen to vibrate the latter, a gear on the eccentric shaft, a countershaft, gears on the eccentric shaft and countershaft meshing with each other, a casing enclosing said gears, means detachably to connect the gear casing with the eccentric casing, and transmission means connecting the countershaft with the conveyer.

9. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a plurality of screens; and devices for vibrating said screens, each comprising a casing provided with bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on saidshaft and enclosed in said casing, and means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen; and a shaftcoupled to the eccentric shafts of said devices for transmitting rotation from one of the eccentric shafts to the other.

10. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a plurality of screens; and devices for vibrating said screens, each comprising a casing provided with bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on said shaft and enclosed in said casing, and means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen; a shaft coupled to the eccentric shafts of said devices for transmitting rotation from one of the eccentric shafts to the other, and an electric motor for driving one of said eccentric shafts.

11. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a plurality of screens; and devices for vibrating said screens, each comprising a casing provided with bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on said shaft and enclosed in said casing, and means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen, a shaft coupled to the eccentric shafts of said devices for transmitting rotation from one of the eccentric shafts to the other,

a countershaft, a pinion on one of said eccentric shafts, a gear on the countershaft meshing with said pinion, a casing for said pinion and gear, a conveyer for supplying materials to the screens, and transmission means between the countershaft and the c0nveyer.

12. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, a plurality of screens; and devices for vibrating said screens, each comprising a casing provided with bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on said shaft and enclosed in said casing, and means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen; a shaft connecting the eccentric shafts of said devices, and means flexibly coupling said connecting shaft to said eccentric shafts.

13. A separator forv grading materials comprising, in combination, a pair of inclined screens; and devices beneath said screens for vibrating the same and each com prising a casing provided with bearings, a shaft journalled in said bearings, an eccentric on said shaft and enclosed in said casing, and means to transmit movements from the eccentric to the screen; one of said eccentric shafts having an end portion projecting outward beyond one of the bearings therefor, an electric motor having an armature mounted on the end portion of said shaft, and a shaft connecting the eccentric shafts, that the electric motor may serve to rotate both of the eccentric shafts.

THOHLAS J. STURTEVANT. 

